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Monthly Archives: April 2012

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Civil-rights activist Angela Davis paid a
visit to Cal Poly Pomona on Wednesday and gave an hourlong speech that
was indicative of a life steeped in activism and academia.

Touching on concerns of the Trayvon Martin case, social
problems related to incarceration and violence against women, Davis
addressed students, faculty and community members to call for a renewed
effort to battle racism.

“We need to start a movement on how to prevent the poison of
racism from continuing to infect generations after generations,” Davis
said. “We have to purge the country of racism. This is not a post-racial
society. People have to recognize that, including the people in
Washington.”

Nogales
High School Social Science Teacher Ryan Easton has just returned from Google Teacher Academy held in London, England. Easton is one of only 50 educators from around the globe – six
from California and 13 from the U.S. – selected for their passion for
using innovative tools to improve teaching and learning. (Click here to view his winning application video on YouTube).

The
Google Teacher Academy is a free professional development experience
designed to help K-12 educational leaders get the most from innovative
technologies. Each Academy is an intensive event where
participants get hands-on experience with Google’s products and
technologies, learn about innovative instructional strategies, and
receive resources to share with colleagues.

Los Angeles County Libraries are offering a
wealth of events this spring. The activities range from a grand wine
soiree in Diamond Bar to art classes in Hacienda Heights. Indeed, there
seems to be something for everyone in the family.

The Hacienda Heights branch is wrapping up its five-week arts
course with an art exhibition this weekend from 1:15 to 2:45 p.m. Kids
in kindergarten through second grade learned drawing techniques from a
professional artist through Theater of Hearts.

Superintendent Maria Ott will share an overview on Rowland Unified’s operational budget and the impact from the state’s budget on
the district. An update on bond modernization
projects will also be shared.

Meetings will take place on today at 6 p.m. at Rowland High School in the Hideout, (located at 2000 S.
Otterbein Avenue in Rowland Heights). Another meeting will be held on Thursday at 6
p.m. at Telesis Academy of Science & Math, (located at 2800 E.
Hollingworth Street in West Covina.)

District Spanish and Chinese
translators will be available.

Rowland Unified announced last month that it would
not be laying off permanent teachers this year – one of the few districts in the region to not implement layoffs or furlough days for
2011-12.

“Due
to our strong reserves and prudent fiscal management, we have weathered
the reductions made for the current year,” said Superintendent Ott.
“However, it is important for us to share with the public that the fate
of the 2012-13 budget is based on the tax initiatives proposed for the
November election ballot.”

Modernization and Measure R Bond information will also be presented at the meeting.

For further information, call the Public Information Office at 626-854-8352.

Several unions said they oppose the release of
reports related to teacher misconduct cases because they could destroy
the reputations of innocent employees.

Responding to this newspaper’s probe of teacher misconduct in
school districts throughout the San Gabriel Valley, the Hacienda La
Puente and Alhambra teachers associations told their respective
districts that releasing teacher names to the newspaper was “unfair.”

Using the exact wording, letters from union heads at both districts take issue with the newspaper’s probe.

“Disclosure of claims and reports of misconduct that have not
survived the test of investigation, and have not been incorporated into a
finding, would be both unproductive and unfair,” say letters from
Hacienda La Puente union President Dani Tucker and Alhambra union
President Roz Collier.

The unions requested that the districts release only
complaints that are “of a substantial nature” and well-founded. They
urged the districts to redact identifying information on ongoing
investigation documents and forms sent to the Commission on Teacher
Credentialing.

“No one benefits from public dissemination of untested
allegations, and any innocent employee … deserves the opportunity to
contest the allegations before his or her reputation is irreparably
tarnished,” the letters read.

Despite those concerns, one school official and one former
union president said more often than not, safeguarding a teacher’s
privacy has become more important than protecting a child’s safety on campus.

Rowland High tennis star Vivian Chau will
soon be “serving” her country as well. The 18-year-old has been accepted
to the U.S. Naval Academy.

The vivacious senior will head off to Annapolis, Md., this
summer, where she will join other plebes for their initiation into our
armed services.

“I have always wanted to give back to my country. I’m thankful
for everything that I have,” Chau explains. “My dad is from Vietnam and
he also wanted to give back, so he became a Los Angeles police
officer.”

Her mother is a teacher at Shelyn Elementary in Rowland Unified. A younger brother also attends Rowland High.

After a very short vacation following graduation in June, the petite athlete will go to Annapolis for the rugged plebe summer.

Citrus College is listed among the top 50
community colleges in the nation for full-time enrollment of Hispanic
students, Hispanic faculty and associate degrees awarded to Hispanic
students, according to an education journal.

The annual issue of The Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education
ranked the community college at number 45 for enrollment, number 40 for
faculty and number 40 for associate degrees, the college reported
Tuesday. The college moved up from 42nd place in degrees awarded to
Hispanics from the magazine’s 2010 poll.

“It is truly an accomplishment to be recognized for our
efforts in serving the Hispanic community,” said Joanne Montgomery,
president of Citrus College board.

Added college president, Geraldine M. Perri: “This recognition
serves to underscore that Citrus College is fulfilling its mission of
serving all of our communities.”

Citrus College, located in Glendora, awarded 1,246 associate
degrees in 2011. About 49 percent of the college’s student population is
Hispanic, according to Perri’s recent report to the community.